If you could give computers one magical power, what would it be and why?

Live TED Conversation: Join TED Fellow James Patten

James is an inventor who is exploring new ways that physical objects can represent and control digital information.

This conversation will open at November 14 at 1:00PM EST.

Closing Statement from James Patten

Thank you to everyone for sharing some great ideas! One theme that I was really struck by was the extent to which people wanted their computers to have human qualities. Also there were some great suggestions about new types of input and output, ways of processing information and many others. I think that within the next several decades many of the things mentioned here will some to pass (some much sooner than that). Ultimately what we think of as a "computer" will change drastically in the next several years, as things adapt to better suit human abilities. Thank you everyone for participating!

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Richard, that is a great idea. My company shares studio space with another TED Fellow, Oliver Medvedik, and Oliver runs a small synthetic biology lab. One of the things they are working on is building low cost lab instruments. It seems like the natural course for this sort of work is toward medical diagnostics. I think others are working on cheaper diagnostic tools as well. Of course, regulatory approvals and patents are obstacles to be overcome in this effort, but it seems like things are inevitably heading in this direction.

Nov 14 2011:
Since I have been away from my city and the people I love I realized computers have a lack. When you try to hug someone you are calling on skype they just act like obstacles. I wish my computer could turn into the person and just hug me back. That would be so great!

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Caterina, this is such a great comment because it really captures one of the ways that technology can stand in the way. I can't remember where I saw this, but I believe someone is working on a machine that can hug you. I think it's intended more as an art project than a practical device, but it shows how computers can function as obstacles in certain kinds of human to human contact.

Nov 14 2011:
That's an interesting thought and there is a lot of work going on in this area now, particularly in the domain of helping people control replacement limbs, and that sort of thing. One question that comes to mind is: out of all the things I might be thinking at any one moment, how would the computer know which ones it should do, and which ones it should not do?

Nov 14 2011:
We'd have to all practice meditation to master our concentration and be "empty" until we want to have a commanding thought. Idealistic maybe, but we are experiencing a trend in that direction in the western world.

Nov 14 2011:
hmm... yes you're right that meditation is gaining a lot of traction. I've always thought of my interaction with the computer as the antithesis of meditation (except perhaps while programming) but perhaps they could come together in the way you mention.

Nov 14 2011:
hi james, i believe the point of separating between a tool or a colleague is a big issue. why don´t we put them together? would it be possible that computers act like tools that correct ourselves, some do already, but in a more human way? or maybe like a tool that continues working when you are tired or lazy, that you start doing something and it continues it by adapting to the method you started...

Nov 14 2011:
Hey Xavier!! That makes sense, maybe there can be a middle point between the two. There is an idea called collaborative interfaces that tries to be a middle point, but it seems like the human qualities are where things are really lacking still.

Nov 14 2011:
Compassion. My parents and their generation are literally scared of computers ; computers expect and do things they don't understand. If computers/applications could adapt (not just the language it uses for prompts and alerts) to the user's skill and fear levels, offering multiple approaches, allowing mistakes with kind and constructive advice, and gradually teach users how to use them, this would allow technology to enrich their lives as much it does our generation and the rest.

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Yoo, it seems like every generation has its own unique set of needs and expectations when it comes to computer technology. I agree they are definitely lacking in the realm of emotional intelligence. We can already see some basic efforts in this direction, such as giving users simpler ways to do things when they are having trouble. Also, there is some research in the lab about detecting frustration and responding to that. People are writing software to recognize facial expressions, and there are sensors that one can wear that measure physiological signs of stress/frustration. So, people are taking baby steps but there is a long way to go!

Nov 14 2011:
@James, looking at your bio you said you are interested in "...[how] computers can adapt to serve human needs". The thing that I wish is not magical but little futuristic; it'd be magical if it is granted right now. I propose "Personal Assistant", definitely analytics are used to analyze human behaviors and pattern. Similar technology can be adapted to serve every individuals needs, computers can be our very own personal assistant. They can analyze our work life and suggest if there is any news or article that we should be aware of, if we are looking for a job they can continuously keep searching - instead of us going to websites every week, they can suggest us to do our laundry, if some of your friend likes something particular and if something of that sort is newly released in the market they can advise us to gift to them on their b'day or send them a friendly fb message to inform them.. let your imagination go wild.. basically one single platform that can do everything..

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Roshan, that's an interesting thought. It seems like one can think of computer technology as a series of tools, just like a pencil or a hammer is a tool, or one can think of computers more like companions or collaborators. Though this discussion is just getting started it strikes me that many commenters are thinking in terms of human traits, roles and responsibilities that they would like computers to have. That's an interesting perspective and I wonder if interest in that way of thinking will continue to grow.

Nov 14 2011:
The problem with this thought is that it requires each person to completely give away his personal life to a computer. And since what you're describing would fit much better if it was an online services, they'd be giving their online lives to a company.

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Fernando, if computers could do what you suggest, a lot of us would be much better off given the amount of time we spend sitting in front of them. The closest thing I can think of is a robotic weight loss coach made by my friend Cory Kidd: http://intuitiveautomata.com/

Nov 14 2011:
That's pretty cool, but I don't think it would work for me.. I'm too lazy to walk over and input what I ate and did for exercise.. too much obstacles there! Now, if it could recognise my voice and inquire, learn my patterns and anticipate (like every morning a coffee), i'd find it more interesting!

I believe that these kind of applications shoud not take more time of your day than absolutely necessary.. I think this is also why the iPhone/Pad/Pod are a success.. there are hardly (if any) obstacles that keep you from getting results.

I'm also working on a Task Manager (just a little pet project for now) that allows me to add, edit, complete and restructure tasks within a matter of seconds. The whole premise is that managing tasks should not become a task itself. I think this should be true for all our interactions with machines/devices.

Nov 14 2011:
Thank you to everyone for sharing some great ideas! One theme that I was really struck by was the extent to which people wanted their computers to have human qualities. Also there were some great suggestions about new types of input and output, ways of processing information and many others. I think that within the next several decades many of the things mentioned here will some to pass (some much sooner than that). Ultimately what we think of as a "computer" will change drastically in the next several years, as things adapt to better suit human abilities. Thank you everyone for participating!

Nov 14 2011:
To diagnose or predict illness to some degree of confidence (with just one scan).. And the ability to examine / make physical contact with the patient. Because, (I expect) a computer can more effectively process/connect diverse bits of information (risks, symptoms, irregularities etc).

Nov 14 2011:
The physical construction of portable computers may well change given the rise of tablets (iPad etc.) To retain marketability for both home/office use and on the move, perhaps construction could follow this trend by allowing the screen to be removable and behave as a tablet. Once reattached, behave like a normal laptop screen. This is possibly in the pipe line at an RnD level already?

Nov 14 2011:
What I would like may already exist - I'd like my computer to track my eyes so that I could look at the screen instead of using a mouse or trackball. By thinking "click" or something similar, I could then "press" a button or navigation item. This would be a large improvement in speed and ease of use.

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Daniel, this does exist, but traditionally has been very expensive. There is at least one effort to make it easier though. Check out this project by Zach Lieberman: http://www.eyewriter.org/

At its current state it's mainly targeted at people with ALS and other handicaps. I don't think you would find it faster or easier in its current form. One issue is that the movement of the human eye is actually very jumpy compared to what one might expect.

Nov 14 2011:
Having progressed through data systems, information systems, and various flavors of expert systems, I'd like to see the advent of wisdom-based systems - systems that can process a question into lesser sub-questions (ad nausea) until it can formulate a complete set of propositional alternatives and then apply consequence criteria to produce an optimal ("wise") solution. I realize that I'm asking a lot, so wouldn't expect delivery until 3Q12. :-)

Nov 14 2011:
I'd love if computers could help us understand health, wellness, and the process of disease more richly. With all of the evidence-based medicine we have and all of the studies in all of our journals, I always feel like the "day to day" is lacking a little bit. It also happens that "day-to-day" health behaviors (really, just how a person lives their life) can lead to certain illnesses. Perhaps a reasonable magical power computers could have would be to provide individualized preventative medicine and health suggestions based upon the individual's genetics, environment, social ties and support networks, etc., ideally accounting for more than just the biological process of disease (meaning, the social determinants of health as well). If a computer could continuously monitor things like levels of stress and diet intake and other things we know cause disease, perhaps we could understand that disease process more fully, and, more importantly, understand what being health means more fully. Also, the computer would give feedback to health professionals and provide lots of data, allowing the entire evidence-based field to become more personal.

Nov 14 2011:
I can imagine a computer that first scans our mind and the way we solve different problems. Than links more people who try to solve the same problem which they obviously cannot solve on their own, and with some real time combinatory, mathematical magic application it would give us a solution or alternatives of solution by using our thought fragments and combining them. Like a computer synchronizing our minds and the results from our thinking processes in a way we would never use.

Nov 14 2011:
If computer processed information in the speed of light.
Solving complex problems in real time.
Each spectrum is a value and each wavelength is a value.
With millions of colors and and wavelengths you'll have a tremendous amount of information at your disposable being detected at light speed.

Nov 14 2011:
I'm not sure if it's a magical power, but what about giving computers the ability to speculate about the outcomes of decisions before they're made. A computer would have the advantage of being truly dispassionate and so would not suffer from the human penchant for pre-selecting a sentimental course. Such a computer could, I think, greatly improve the lives of many people faced with difficult decisions.

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Jofree, one of the capabilities I've been excited about for a long time is the ability for the computer to track the positions of arbitrary objects in 3D space. It seems like this would open up a lot of different kinds of applications, including finding lost objects and turning walls and tables in your home into interactive surfaces. finding lost things would be really helpful!

Nov 14 2011:
This is changing already but if could give them one magical power it would be to get rid of all of its hardware (but have it be practical too).

I want to pull information out of the air like pulling a rabbit out of a hat! I want to slide pieces of information around in front of me like I'm some conductor at a symphony but instead of music I'm directing blocks of information to move about all at the same time and I don't want a square box (a computer monitor) getting in my way.

Nov 14 2011:
Battery life. OS, RAM and storage gets enough attention, can someone pay attention to the batteries please! (I'm assuming hand held devices fall into 'computer').
But since the question is 'magical power' I'd like invisibility... or nano tech, or simply wi-fing google pages to my head- that would make me magical. Add a little Siri and Milo/Mylo there!

Nov 14 2011:
A computer is actually a machine which reduces human efforts.Lets come up with one which can simply reduce the stress and work,its should make the life a much simpler to live than it looks like.I think gesture technology will be the next evolution for the present computers.

Nov 14 2011:
To be able to list it's alments as it begins to run slow... for example and then able to speak clearly and produce the answer to the problems. And then mend it self quickly and quietly without fuss...adding to your knowledge. With out a whole lost day becoming an expert in a NOT need to know.

Nov 14 2011:
Interesting question: I think the computer (or artificial limb or whatever it may be) would need a signal, the way the brain sends an electrical impulse to command your mouth to open and sound to come out of your throat. Normally, unless someone has a neurological problem, we don't start moving limbs or shouting unless we want to. So there must be a way that, say, a limb knows not to move when the brain is sending the message for the eye to make wink, for example. A way to "ignore" the impulse if that impulse is not meant for you.

Necessity (or in my case, laziness) is the mother of invention, they say. I had written the premice to a story where people had implants in their hands. The impulses from the brain and through the implant would command nanites to accomplish a task. Say: "install drapes over that window" or "clean those dishes". In my story, the nanites were highly evolved and could compose themselves into shapes in order to accomplish the task they were commanded to do. There were even nanite cops that could reshape as needed. So there... That should give you plenty to work on for, oh, a century or two! :-)

Nov 14 2011:
I'd like an option to plug into the matrix. I want to be able to explore a digital world while feeling like I'm within my own body, using my senses to explore. I know this is a huge feat, but I know scientists are beginning to decode our brain chemistry to understand how our brain processes images, so intercepting nerve signals and replacing visual ones could be a start, but it's a long way out.

Nov 14 2011:
A computer should be able to work like an experienced assistant. It should be able to know that, first thing in the morning, I want to read a certain website, check certain emails which are more important to me, and perhaps hear a certain type of music. It should observe my actions, and adapt to them, offering what it thinks I might like, but quickly accepting (and adapting) to my changes. A computer should do for actions and living what Pandora is beginning to do with selecting music.

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Ken, I agree and it seems like things are starting to take steps in that direction, but in a piecemeal way. e.g. google priority inbox and the favorites pages that many web browsers have now..

2. To make the human brain understand skills, places, cultures etc with the help of images, videos, demonstrations, interviews streamed/ distilled into the consciousness of the mind in a matter of hours/ minutes. I guess something akin to finding the access areas in our brain and enriching them.

Nov 14 2011:
instant on would be a good start. Also I would hope that computers become less of a box or device or operating system. I would like to have access to information and computing anywhere and on any display or device, my stuff should follow me wherever I am and whatever I'm doing.

Nov 14 2011:
Teleportation would cause an elimination of cars, trains, commercial aircraft, etc. Those businesses would be killed, but I'm sure something else would work out. They could create transportation for leisure in/on water, land, air and space. We may even be able to work more on energy efficient vehicles.

Nov 14 2011:
In place of artificial intelligence, use natural intelligence to respond to human behavior. Should be able to understand the user.

For Example:
In today's world we usually use the existing database to find the similar action of other human beings for the query posed by user and get the action taken by those other users as a response which may not be the exact response the user is expecting. So its obviously not the exact response/solution he is looking for. If the computers can understand the user along with his questions, then it can appropriately respond and retuen what user is expecting.

Nov 14 2011:
The only thing that we want at the end of the day is SOMEONE who can listen to us whatever we say . . . who can understand us . . . who can feel your problem rather then understanding it . . who can bear our anger , , who can laugh along with us on our silly things that we do . . in short i would love it if my computer can read my heart and give it what it wants . . . i want my computer to be that SOMEONE which can never be found in HUMAN BEING . . even if 1 wants !

Nov 14 2011:
Hi Dustin, I'm curious, if a computer could float in air, how would you use that?

Smell would be fun, and people have worked on that... usually there are a few containers loaded with various scents (or components of scents), and those are opened and closed to release different smells. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smell-O-Vision

If you were to search human memory, how would you express what you were searching for? I think it will be an exciting (and perhaps a bit scary) time when/if computers reach that level!